[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 14 (Tuesday, January 24, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1457-S1458]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SENATE RESOLUTION 69--CONDEMNING TERRORIST ATTACKS IN ISRAEL
Mr. DOLE (for himself, Mr. Daschle, Mr. Helms, Mr. Pell, Mr. D'Amato,
Mr. Packwood, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Robb, Mr. Ford, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr.
Wellstone, Mr. Specter, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Cohen, and Mr.
Brown) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and
agreed to:
S. Res. 69
Whereas on January 22, 1995 a brutal and cowardly terrorist
attack near Netanya, Israel killed 19 Israelis and wounded
dozens more;
Whereas the terrorist group ``Islamic Jihad'' claimed
credit for the January 22, 1955 attack in a statement issued
in Damascus, Syria;
Whereas on December 25, 1994, a ``Hamas'' terrorist attack
in Jerusalem wounded 13 civilians, including 1 American
citizen;
Whereas on October 19, 1994, a Hamas terrorist attack in
Tel Aviv killed 22 Israelis and wounded 48 more;
Whereas 110 Israeli citizens have been killed and hundreds
more have been wounded in terrorist attacks since the
Declaration of Principles was signed on September 13, 1993;
Whereas the Declaration of Principles obligates the
Palestinian Authority to publicly condemn terrorist attacks,
and to bring to justice perpetrators of such acts in
territories under their control;
Whereas no perpetrators of these terrorist attacks have
been brought to justice for their acts of violence by the
Palestinian Authority;
Whereas the governments of Syria and Iran continue to
provide safe haven and support for terrorist groups,
including Islamic Jihad and Hamas, among others;
Whereas continued acts of terrorism threaten the peace
process in the Middle East;
Therefore, be it resolved by the Senate that--
(1) The terrorist attacks in Israel are condemned in the
strongest possible terms;
(2) Condolences are extended to the families of all those
killed, and hopes are expressed for the rapid and complete
recovery of all wounded in the January 22, 1995 attack;
(3) Chairman Arafat should, consistent with the obligations
of the Declaration of Principles, publicly and forcefully
condemn acts of terror against Israelis, take immediate steps
to bring to justice those responsible for such acts, and
implement steps to prevent future acts of terrorism in all
territory under his control;
(4) President Assad should immediately end all support for
terrorist groups, including safe haven, material and
financial support, in all territory under his control;
(5) The administration should undertake strong efforts to
end the safe haven, training, and financial and other support
granted terrorists by Iran, Syria and other states.
Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I rise in support of this resolution
condemning the brutal terrorist attack in Israel. Any peace process
must show benefits if it is to work. Unfortunately, average Israelis
are seeing increased terrorism and increased insecurity as extremists
seek to use violence to derail peace. If the Israeli population
concludes that the peace process is not in their interest, the process
will halt.
Since September 13, 1993, when the Declaration of Principles was
signed, 110 Israelis have been killed in acts of terrorism. Hundreds
more have been wounded. And despite requirements for the Palestinian
authority to bring those responsible for acts of violence to justice,
not one terrorist has been convicted and sentenced.
Just as troubling as Chairman Arafat's inaction in the face of
terrorism is the continued refusal of Syrian President Assad to crack
down on terrorist groups operating from Syria and Syrian-controlled
Lebanon. It is a sad fact that the statement claiming credit for last
Sunday's barbaric attack was issued by Islamic Jihad from Syria. Syria
and Syrian-controlled Lebanon remain the address of choice for many of
the most bloodthirsty terrorists in the world.
The peace process in the Middle East is at a crossroads. Israel is
divided over the best course to protect its future. We in the United
States cannot and should not get involved in the internal Israeli
debate. We can and should, however, express our condolences to those
[[Page S1458]] murdered, and our hope that those injured recover
completely. We should also express our outrage that these acts
continue--without adequate responses from Syria or the PLO. I am
pleased to be joined by my colleagues in passing this expression of the
Senate's views. I ask unanimous consent that a list of Israelis killed
in terrorist attacks since September 13, 1993, be printed in the
Record.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
Israeli deaths from terrorism since September 13, 1993
Deaths since September 13, 1993 (as of Jan. 24, 1995)...............110
Civilian deaths....................................................70
IDF deaths.........................................................40
1995 Deaths (as of Jan. 23)..........................................20
Civilian............................................................2
IDF deaths.........................................................18
1994 Deaths..........................................................70
Civilian...........................................................35
IDF deaths.........................................................35
Deaths between Sept. 13 and Dec. 31, 1993............................20
Civilian...........................................................15
IDF deaths..........................................................5
Deaths Since May 4, 1994.............................................64
Civilian...........................................................32
IDF deaths.........................................................32
Deaths between Jan. 1 and May 4, 1994................................26
Civilian...........................................................23
IDF deaths..........................................................3
Deaths between Sept. 13 and Dec. 31, 1993............................20
Civilian...........................................................15
IDF deaths..........................................................5
Deaths between Sept. 13, 1993 and May 4, 1994........................46
Civilian...........................................................38
IDF deaths..........................................................8
Mr. PELL. Mr. President, I watched with utter revulsion and horror
the news accounts of the terrorist attack in Netanya, Israel. The
casualties now stand at 19 dead and more than 60 injured, all
apparently at the hands of the radical Islamic Jihad organization.
Once again, Israelis are reminded of the human costs of pursuing
peace with the Palestinians. Once again, the Islamic radicals have
demonstrated their capacity to seize the initiative with their craven
acts of terror. Once again, Israel is forced to seal off the
territories and reexamine its willingness to participate in the
Palestinian experiment with self-rule. And once again, in a perverse
twist of logic, the enemies of peace become the beneficiaries of a
horrible tragedy.
The Israeli Government, to its enormous credit, has concluded that it
will not allow the terrorists to dictate Israel's decision to implement
its peace agreement with the Palestinians. Prime Minister Rabin has, in
my opinion, made the right and courageous decision to stand by his
pledge.
What concerns me most, Mr. President, and what I wish to highlight
today, is the price to be paid for that decision. All of us who follow
events in Israel know that Prime Minister Rabin has a limited mandate
to reach peace with the Palestinians and Israel's other neighbors. With
each act of terror, with each addition to the list of casualties, the
Prime Minister's political standing, and his ability to take risks for
peace, are eroded.
Even more important, there is a real danger that the Israeli public
will change its fundamental view of the peace process. In Israeli
minds, last year's moving images of White House signing ceremonies and
hopeful talk of peace and understanding have been replaced by the
bloody carnage of the bombing site and the mournful cries of the
victims' families.
Although opposition to the peace process--even violent opposition--is
to be expected, my fear is that is that we are fast approaching a point
of no return, a point where Israeli government calls to continue the
peace talks will fall on deaf ears. In order to maintain their support
for the peace process, Israelis have to know that they will be secure,
and that the Palestinians are making a good faith effort to ensure that
is the case. Otherwise the Israeli public will see no reason to make
other difficult concessions for peace.
If the Palestinians do not take dramatic steps to reign in Hamas and
the Islamic Jihad, then the simple fact is that more terrorist acts
will occur. At some point in the not too distant future, Israelis--and
even the Israeli government--could decide that adherence to the process
is no longer worth the effort. It is up to all interested parties--the
Israelis, the United States, the Syrians who provide support and safe
haven to the terrorists, and, more to the point, to the Palestinians
themselves, to see that does not happen.
Mr. President, I am pleased to cosponsor a resolution condemning the
acts of terrorism, which will be offered shortly by Senators Dole,
Daschle, and others.
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